A flat multihull on land can have something of a predator in wait, especially when its hulls feature performative moulds by Morrelli & Melvin and are painted neon green. However, the 24.10 metre long and 9.50 metre wide boat from the longeron to the bathing platforms Persico Cat 72' is not celebrating the start of its season in the Mediterranean. Following completion of the paintwork and interior fittings at Persico in La Spezia, the first seatrials off the coast of Florida are on the calendar. In Pensacola, the "American Magic" team, which has been able to draw on its expertise from the 37th season, will take over. America's Cup and sails to the limit with a crew of three - but 20 centimetres above the water's surface is the limit. Skimming and not foiling is the motto.
Persico Cat 72': Skimming instead of foiling
Unlike Imocas or the Baltic 111 "Raven" American Magic's cat relies on rudders with movable T-foils. In addition, a seven-metre foil and a daggerboard extend to leeward, increasing the draught from 0.65 metres to 5.31 metres. From nine knots of wind, the auxiliary wings should provide speed advantages and bring the 21-tonner into level flight from 13 knots and up to 20 knots. More is possible: 40 knots downwind and 26 knots upwind. Persico made most of the wings from carbon fibre with Nomex cores as the basis. For comparison: a Gunboat 72 - made of full carbon, but with flybridge - has a displacement of 29 tonnes.
Cat lightweight construction at Persico
The Gomboc Flight Control System, which automatically regulates the flight altitude, ensures safe low-level flight. The multi-specialists at Morrelli & Melvin also utilised the simulation software of the same name, which has been used by the New Zealand America's Cuppers since 2010, in the development of the hydrofoils. To prevent maleshing, the steering system automatically lowers the hull step by step and adjusts the speed to the owner's safety requirements. The carbon mast from Southern Spars, which can be rotated by 45 degrees, is additionally supported by backstays.
With pizza oven and solar system
Even though the Persico Cat 72' goes to an America's Cup team, it is not intended to be a pure projectile. The pragmatic, cosy interior with cork and exposed carbon fibre was designed by Design Unlimitedwho had to accommodate a pizza oven in the fully equipped galley. The "Performance Sailing Catamaran" is powered by a BMW battery bank with a capacity of 40 kilowatt hours and two 20-kilowatt diesel generators. The solar panels on the roof are designed to supply up to 2 kilowatts of electricity. In calm conditions, two electric motors from Torqeedo each transmit up to 25 kilowatts to the propellers via shaft systems - when sailing, they will be looking out of the water most of the time anyway.
